Somba-Siawari
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A language of Papua New Guinea
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Bulum, Burum, Burum-Mindik, Mindik
Autonym
Somba-Siawari
Population
10,000 (2000 census). 5,500 Somba, 4,500 Siawari. 1,000 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 11,000.
Location
Morobe province: Finschhafen district, Central Huon peninsula, Lae south of Cromwell Range, Burum river valley and west slopes of Kuat river; scattered in Port Moresby. 30 villages.
Language Maps
Language Status
4 (Educational).
Classification
Dialects
Somba, Siawari. Lexical similarity: 92% with dialects.
Typology
SOV; postpositions.
Language Use
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 80%. Literacy rate in L2: 80%–90%. 7,000 can read it, 6,000 can write it. 7 community schools. Taught in secondary schools. Dictionary. NT: 1996.
Language Resources
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
‘Bulum’ is the Kâte [kmg] name for the Burum area. Christian, traditional religion.